Ah, the humble CV. That all-important document that’s supposed to open doors, impress employers, and convey your brilliance in two pages or less. Yet, for reasons known only to a rogue group of career coaches and a handful of overzealous LinkedIn influencers, certain phrases keep cropping up that, quite frankly, mean absolutely nothing.
It’s like there’s an unofficial rulebook out there dictating that everyone must use the same bland, vague, and thoroughly uninspiring language when describing their professional life. And so, every day, recruiters around the world sit at their desks, glazed eyes skimming through an endless sea of buzzwords that make them question their life choices.
So, in honour of those poor souls who have to read these CVs, let’s take a look at the most overused phrases that should be banned faster than a TikTok dance trend at a corporate event.
1. "Results-Oriented Professional"
Ah yes, the ol’ "results-oriented"chestnut. Because, of course, there are hordes of people happily admitting to being a "failure-oriented dilettante"instead.
If you’re going to call yourself results-oriented, you’d better be ready to back that up. Tell us what those results were. Did you boost sales by 40%? Did you reduce expenses by 25%? Or did you just excel at getting through the day without crying in the break room?
Give us numbers, real achievements, or at the very least, a story that doesn’t sound like it was cobbled together by a corporate-speak generator.
2. "Team Player"
Oh, the beloved "team player."The phrase that tells us absolutely nothing about who you are or what you can do.
It’s 2023, folks. Being a team player should be the bare minimum, not something worthy of a gold star on your CV.
If you want to prove your teamwork skills, tell us about the time you led a project, resolved a conflict, or saved Kevin from accounting from a coffee machine disaster. Give us something to work with here.
3. "Excellent Communication Skills"
Really? Excellent, you say? Well, I’m sorry to break it to you, but unless you’re holding a TED Talk, hosting your own podcast, or have negotiated peace between warring factions, we’re going to need a bit more elaboration.
Did you improve customer satisfaction through your savvy use of language? Did you draft compelling proposals that made clients throw their money at you? Or are you just really good at office small talk about the weather?
4. "Dynamic and Passionate"
If there were a prize for the most vacuous phrase in the history of CVs, "dynamic and passionate"would surely be a contender.
Dynamic about what, exactly? Passionate about what? Birdwatching? Extreme ironing? Your weekly pub quiz team?
Instead of these empty platitudes, tell us what fuels your fire, what gets you out of bed in the morning (besides your alarm clock and the promise of coffee), and how that aligns with the job you’re applying for.
5. "Proven Track Record"
A proven track record of what, my friend? Because unless you’re a racehorse or a famous Olympian, you’re going to have to provide a little more context.
Did you have a hand in doubling the company revenue? Did you spearhead a groundbreaking campaign that went viral (and no, not in the “accidentally tweeted something embarrassing viral” way)? Tell us. Show us. Demonstrate this illustrious track record.
6. "Self-Motivated"
And here we have the classic: "self-motivated". Because of course, employers are out there actively looking for people who need to be spoon-fed every task.
If you’re self-motivated, prove it with anecdotes of proactive achievements. Did you initiate a new project? Did you learn a new skill without being asked? Did you start a quirky side hustle that no one asked for but everyone loves?
7. "Detail-Oriented"
Ah, the detail-oriented claim. Yet, ironically, often followed by a glaring typo two lines down.
If you pride yourself on being detail-oriented, for goodness’ sake, check your CV for spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, and formatting inconsistencies before sending it off.
And tell us how your attention to detail increased efficiency, reduced errors, or stopped a small mishap from snowballing into a full-blown catastrophe.
8. "Innovative"
Unless you’ve invented the next iPhone, launched a rocket to Mars, or created a revolutionary method for making toast, you might want to rethink tossing this one around willy-nilly.
Share your inventive escapades. Did you solve a problem in an unexpected way? Did you introduce a new process that changed the game? Regale us with tales of your innovation prowess.
Need Help Crafting a Standout CV?
If you’re guilty of using these overused phrases, fear not. There is hope. Start with specific achievements, real numbers, and genuine passion.
And if you’re tired of wading through CVs filled with the same old clichés, let Coburg Banks help. We connect businesses with candidates who don’t just talk the talk but walk the walk.
Get in touch with us today. Because life’s too short for boring CVs and meaningless buzzwords.
